Jeanette Buckingham, a librarian at the University of Alberta, is a winner of the CAUT Academic Librarians' Distinguished Service Award this year.

Buckingham was recognized for her work in promoting librarians' academic status and working conditions.

The award, presented by CAUT Council on Nov. 21, was recommended by an independent jury elected by CAUT's Librarians' Committee.

"Jeanette has a long-standing involvement in the activities of the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta, including serving a term as president," librarians' committee chair Christopher Dennis said. "In addition, she served in numerous capacities on the association's council and on the university's Association of Professional Librarians. Her work currently focuses on reviewing and negotiating the faculty agreement at the university and in formulating an agreement for the university's research associates."

Many of Buckingham's nomination letters signified the gratitude of her colleagues for her advocacy, leadership, outreach and mentoring that has provided ongoing gains for the advancement of the professional and academic interests of librarians at the university.

"We're delighted to recognize a person whose consistent and long-term commitment has ensured the participation of librarians as equal partners under terms similar to those of faculty," Dennis said.

The CAUT award was created to reward the achievements of academic librarians or faculty whose contributions during their careers have benefited academic librarians at Canadian universities. Buckingham is the fifth librarian to win the award in its 10-year history.